Split House for Optimal Space

The house, designed by Space Craftt Architects, has a vernacular character, automated amenities, and is Vaastu compliant

We have achieved environment sustainability with several solutions from the orientation of the house, to use of eco-friendly building materials, solar energy, to the design and size of the fenestration, etc, and all within a very modern, contemporary house

Ar. Umaesh Raje, Space Craftt Architects

Fact File
Project Name: Split House
Location: Kolhapur
Site Area: 492.00 sq.m
Built up Area : 411.310 sq.m
Architect: Space Craftt Architects
Project Team: Ar. Umaesh Raje
Landscape Designer: Amit Patil
Structural Consultant: Dr.A.B. Kulkarni & Associates
Civil Contractor: Rajendra Warnulkar
Photo Credits: Sanjay Chougule

The 4BHK house required an additional hall for yoga/meditation, parking for four cars, servant quarter on the ground floor and a pet house. Hence, the spaces were split at different levels, with the living hall raised by 8.6”, which resulted in preserving the ground coverage and maximizing the landscape and parking areas.

The material palette as per the tropical climate includes bricks coated with PU for their enduring wet look and easy maintenance, and terracotta cladding tiles throughout the house for their thermal insulation, and roofing shingles over the verandah and yoga room with decorative eaves board. A dry pebble landscape on the steps give a Zen garden look. The dining room opens to an extended raised lawn with MS fabricated rafter pergola with clear glass that allows in ample light and protection from the harsh sun.

The kitchen in the S/E corner on the rear side has clay brick cladding on the exterior for thermal cooling of the walls. The master bedroom has a wooden rafter ceiling, and single operated windows to reduce heat from the south- west side and get the early morning sunlight. It opens out to a spacious sit-out with a water body and a raised wooden deck.

Environment sustainability has been achieved with the following solutions:

0.23 m AAC blocks for external walls and 0.15 m AAC blocks for internal walls
Gypsum plaster for internal finishing hence no further curing required
External wall of 12mm thick terracotta cladding for thermal insulation
Single component G. I double shutter customized window system with openable shutters
100% ventilation through windows
Rock wool of 50mm thickness used for gypsum false ceiling for thermal comfort
Vertical window of 1.80m height for maximum light and ventilation
Strategic window size and placement for maximum cross ventilation
Rainwater harvesting for bore well recharge and landscape
Solar panels for hot water.